We are planning a trip to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos (Luang Prabang) in Jan./2005 but recently read about violence in the travel advisories for Laos - one of which was posted July 9, 2004.

Does anyone have any insight or reason to believe that it is not safe to travel there?

go and enjoy...forget the reports or you will never be able to go anyplace but to des moines, and that too is doubtful....

wow I agree with RHKKMK 100%.. sometings not right.

It's useful to know what these travel advisories are about in order to judge their relevance to you. There have been a series of rebel attacks on buses along two highways in Laos over the last two years. There have been a number of deaths of Lao citizens and a few of travelers.

So, if you are planning on traveling through Laos on public buses, particularly on the routes where there have been the attacks, I would suggest that you reconsider your transport from city to city. If you are planning on flying in and out of Luang Prabang, visiting some sites in the countryside and on the river, I personally would go without hesitation.

I've taken the local bus connecting vientien and Luang Phabang(sp).. if you do take one go early or you'll be stuck siting on a plastic stool which is placed all along the aisle, yep it's overpacked.

the safty consern doesn't lay in the rebels but the bus driver beralling (sp) down the mountains and curves overlooking some steep dropes.